Subclass 445 Dependent Child visa 2026: which parent visas qualify and who must sponsor?

Two conditions decide almost every Subclass 445 case. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official page "Dependent Child visa (Subclass 445)" (checked against the July 2026 version of that page), the child must be dependent on a parent who holds a Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309), a Partner visa (subclass 820), or a Dependent Child visa (subclass 445), and that same child must be sponsored by the person who sponsored or nominated the parent's permanent Partner visa application. Sponsorship itself has to be approved before the visa can be granted, so the two tests — the parent's visa status and the identity of the sponsor — stand or fall together. This article is general information only and not advice on any individual child's situation; before acting on a specific case, check the Department's current official page and any professional advice you rely on.

Which parent visas actually qualify?

The official page names exactly three visas the parent can hold:

Two constraints sit alongside that list. The parent must still be the holder of one of these temporary visas when the decision is made, and the child is expected to apply to be added to the parent's permanent Partner visa application once the 445 is granted. If the child is already in Australia, they cannot be holding another visa that carries a "No further stay" condition.

The text of the Migration Regulations 1994 describes the "visa-holding parent" concept with a slightly wider set of codes, including subclass 310 and subclass 826 alongside 309, 820 and 445. Those references reflect other or earlier partner visa codes, and the Department's current visa listing is the operative public reference, so any reliance on 310 or 826 should be confirmed against the official page before you assume it applies.

Who has to sponsor the child?

The sponsor must be the same person who sponsored or nominated the parent's permanent Partner visa application. The Department approves this sponsorship separately from the visa, and approval is required before the visa can be granted.

Child protection rules apply to that person directly:

• If the sponsor — or their spouse or de facto partner, if any — has a pending charge for a registrable offence, the sponsorship and the visa application will be refused.
• If the sponsor or their partner has a conviction for a registrable offence, sponsorship can be approved only in very limited circumstances.

The Department publishes its own material on measures for the protection of children, which sits behind this part of the test.

What if the original sponsor has died, or the relationship has ended?

This is where most families assume wrongly that a child can simply be sponsored by the visa-holding parent. Under clause 445.223 of the Migration Regulations 1994, the child normally continues to be sponsored by the parent's original nominator or sponsor. The alternatives are narrow:

1. If that nominator or sponsor has died, or if the relationship between the visa-holding parent and that person has ceased and the visa-holding parent has requested consideration under the family violence or parental arrangements provisions, the visa-holding parent may sponsor the child instead.
2. Where the applicant is themselves the dependent child of another Subclass 445 holder and the circumstances above apply, the person requesting the Subclass 100 or Subclass 801 outcome may act as sponsor.

Guidance summarised from the Regulations also points to a new sponsorship form (Form 40CH) and to a financial capacity requirement under regulation 1.20 — the ability to provide at least two years of financial support — when a replacement sponsor steps in. Form numbers and monetary tests are not repeated on the Department's public 445 page, so treat them as regulatory detail to verify against the current official text.

How old can the child be and still count as dependent?

The child must be either:

• under 18 years of age, or
• over 18 and financially dependent on the parent who holds the temporary Partner or Dependent Child visa.

The Regulations frame "dependent child" through the definition in regulation 1.03, which looks at the parent-child relationship, marital status, age, and for applicants over 18 whether dependency comes from financial reliance or from a loss of capacity to work. Practically, an 18-year-old whose parents pay their living costs and an adult child who is not self-supporting are assessed on evidence, not on age alone.

Which other criteria decide the outcome?

Assume a hypothetical applicant: a 19-year-old who has finished school and whose living costs and tuition are paid by a parent holding a subclass 820 visa. The financial dependency limb is the one they must evidence. If the same person's sponsor was also the nominator on that parent's permanent Partner visa application, that sponsor — not a friend, grandparent or the visa-holding parent — normally has to be the one whose sponsorship is approved.

What does the visa allow, and how does it bridge to permanent residence?

Subclass 445 is a temporary visa that lasts until the Department decides the parent's permanent Partner visa application. While it is in effect the child can move to or stay in Australia during that period, travel to and from Australia, work and study, and attend free English language classes under the Adult Migrant English Program if eligible. The official page also notes that applicants may want to check who can lawfully help with a visa application before paying anyone for assistance.

The bridge matters as much as the temporary visa itself: once the 445 is granted, the child must apply to be added to the parent's permanent Partner visa application. Missing that step leaves the child on a visa that expires when the parent's permanent visa is decided. The Regulations describe this joining step separately from the 445 grant, so the sequence is: qualify, be sponsored, be granted, then join the parent's permanent application.

Is citizenship by descent sometimes simpler than this visa?

Yes, in one narrow fact pattern. Under the official page, a child may apply for Australian citizenship by descent instead of a visa if the child was born outside Australia and one of their parents was an Australian citizen at the time of the birth. That route replaces the visa pathway entirely rather than running alongside it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a child get a Subclass 445 if the parent already holds a permanent Partner visa?

No, not on the official criteria. The qualifying parent visas listed are subclass 309, subclass 820 and subclass 445 — all temporary — and the parent must remain the holder of one of them when the decision is made. Once the parent's permanent Partner visa is granted, the child's pathway is different.

Does the sponsor have to be the same person who sponsored the parent?

Yes. The official page states that the child must be sponsored by the same person who sponsored or nominated the parent's permanent Partner visa application, and that sponsorship must be approved before the visa can be granted. A different relative or friend cannot simply stand in.

Can the parent themselves sponsor the child?

Only in the narrow situations set out in clause 445.223 of the Migration Regulations 1994: the original nominator or sponsor has died, or the relationship has ceased and the visa-holding parent has requested consideration under the family violence or parental arrangements provisions. Otherwise the original sponsor is required.

What blocks a sponsorship outright?

A pending charge for a registrable offence against the sponsor, or against their spouse or de facto partner, means both the sponsorship and the visa application must be refused. A conviction for such an offence leaves only very limited circumstances in which sponsorship can be approved.

Is there an age limit for the child?

Not a fixed upper age. The official criteria allow a child who is under 18, or who is over 18 and financially dependent on the parent holding the temporary Partner or Dependent Child visa. Evidence of dependency is what carries an adult child's case.

Are health and character checks required for children?

Yes. The child and any dependent children applying with them must meet the health requirement, and the child must meet the character requirement if aged 16 or over. The Department may also require other dependent children in the application to meet the character requirement.

References

• Australian Department of Home Affairs — Dependent Child visa (Subclass 445)
• Federal Register of Legislation — Migration Regulations 1994
• Attorney-General's Department — Registration of overseas child orders